Apparatus for regularly regrouping and distributing objects from different origins on a leadout conveyor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for regularly regrouping and distributing objects from different origins on a leadout conveyor, these objects being fed by a plurality of feed conveyors extending at right angles to the leadout conveyor. The apparatus comprises, for each feed conveyor, a device for detecting the delivery of the objects onto said leadout conveyor, comprising essentially a lock-chamber disposed at the delivery end of the feed conveyor and equipped with means permitting the passage of only one object at a time towards the leadout conveyor, and an input pickup device adapted to be energized only by the permanent presence of an object on said feed conveyor at a point located upstream of said lockchamber. The apparatus further includes an output pickup responsive to the passage of each object on said leadout conveyor, the various input pickups and the single output pickup being connected to an electric control device causing the simultaneous opening of the lock-chambers of said feed conveyors in which the permanent presence of objects has been detected by their energized input pickups at a rate of opening inversely proportional to the number of energized input pickups.

illnited States Patent Inventor Jacques Arvisenct 1 Le liiavre, France[21] Appl. No. 806,452 [22] Filed Dec. 19,1969 [45] Patented Dec. 21,1971 [73] Assignee Sidel, Societe Anonyme Le Havre, lFrance [32]Priority Dec. 31, 1968 [33] li rance [31] 182910 [54] APPARATUS FORREGULARLY REGROUP ING AND DISTRIBUTING OBJECTS FROM DIFFERENT UMGKNS ONA LEADOUT CONVEYOR 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.5. C1. 198/32, 198/79 [51] Int. C1 B653 47/26 [50] Field 01Search 198/32, 78, 79; 221/301; 193/40 [56] References Cited UNlTEDSTATES PATENTS 862,923 8/1907 Linsley 221/301 3,140,772 7/1964 Seragnoli198/32 3,178,006 4/1965 Nigrelli et al. 198/32 Assistant Examiner-MerleF. Matfei Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel .l. Lobato ABSTRACT: Anapparatus for regularly regrouping and distributing objects fromdifferent origins on a leadout conveyor, these objects being fed by aplurality of feed conveyors extending at right angles to the leadoutconveyor. The apparatus comprises, for each feed conveyor, a device fordetecting the delivery of the objects onto said leadout conveyor,comprising essentially a lock-chamber disposed at the delivery end ofthe feed conveyor and equipped with means permitting the passage of onlyone object at a time towards the leadout conveyor, and an input pickupdevice adapted to be energized only by the permanent presence of anobject on said feed conveyor at a point located upstream of saidlock-chamber. The apparatus further includes an output pickup responsiveto the passage of each object on said leadout conveyor, the variousinput pickups and the single output pickup being connected to anelectric control device causing the simultaneous opening of thelock-chambers of said feed conveyors in which the permanent presence ofobjects has been detected by their energized input pickups at a rate ofopening inversely proportional to the number of energized input pickups.

Pmmmnccm an 3.6281549 SHEET 1 [1F 4 PATENTED B51321 ran SHEET 2 BF QAPTAIRATKJS FOE REGULARLY REGROIJIING AND DISTRIE'UTING' OBJECTS FROMDIFFERENT ORIGINS ON A LEADOUT CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONconveyor. If it is desired to dispose these objects regularly on thislast-named conveyor, a difficulty arises in case the rate at which theseobjects are transported on or in the various feed conveyors isirregular. Therefore, some output regulating means must be provided topermit a regular distribution of these objects on the leadout conveyor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the essential object of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus for solving this problem in a simpleand reliable manner while ensuring a regular distribution of theobjects, irrespective of their random disposition on the leadoutconveyor.

To this end, this apparatus for regularly regrouping and distributingobjects from different origins on a leadout conveyor, these objectsbeing fed by a plurality of feed conveyors extending at right angles tothe leadout conveyor, is characterized in that it comprises for eachfeed conveyor, a device for detecting the delivery of these objects ontosaid leadout conveyor, this device comprising essentially a lock-chamberdisposed at the delivery end of the feed conveyor and equipped withmeans permitting the passage of only one object at a time towards theleadout conveyor, and an input pickup device (hereinafter referred to assimply a pickup) adapted to be energized only by the permanent presenceof an object on said feed conveyor a point located upstream of saidlock-chamber. The apparatus further comprises an output pickup deviceresponsive to the passage of each object on said leadout conveyor, thevarious input pickups and the single output pickup being connected to anelectric control device causing the simultaneous opening of thelock-chambers of said feed conveyors in which the permanent presence ofobjects is detected by their energized input pickups, the rate ofopening of said lock-chambers being inversely proportional to the numberof energized input pickups.

In other words, assuming that the installation comprises n feedconveyors and that a number p of these conveyors carry upstream of theirlock-chambers a number of waiting objects sufficient to cause theirinput pickups to detect the pennanent presence of an object and betherefore energized, the electric control device which receives from theoutput pickup an impulse at each passage of an object on the leadoutconveyor will cause the simultaneous opening of p lock-chambersassociated with the p feed conveyors concerned only every p impulsesreceived from the output pickup. Thus, the electric control device willcause, each time p objects have cleared the output pickup, thesimultaneous opening of p lock-chambers, whereby p new objects will thenbe transferred to the leadout conveyor.

The electric control device of the apparatus of this invention comprisesmeans permitting the rate of opening of the lock-chambers to the numberof feed conveyors of which the input pickups have been energized. Inother words, the rate of opening increases or decreases when the numberof feed conveyors containing a sufficient number of waiting objectsdecreases or increases, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A typical form of embodiment of thepresent invention will now be described by way of example with referenceto the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. l is an elevational view of an apparatus for regularly regroupingand distributing objects dropped upon a conveyor, according to thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is an axial section showing on a larger scale a lockchamberprovided at the lower end of a vertical object-feeding duct;

' FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line III-Ill of FIG. 2;

FIG. d is a horizontal section taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

5 is a wiring diagram of the electric control device of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus illustrated in thedrawing is designed for regrouping on a leadout conveyor ll. objects, inthis case plastic bottles 2, delivered from a pair of feed conveyors 3and d disposed at right angles to the leadout conveyor 11. In thespecific form of embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing, thefeed conveyors 3 and d consist of a pair of vertical ducts disposedside-by-side and in which the bottles 2 are allowed to drop freely.

The leadout conveyor 11 consists of an endless perforated belt of whichthe upper, operative reach travels to the right as seen in FIG. i; thisbelt is driven on a frame structure 5 by a motor (not shown). A vacuumchamber 6 is mounted beneath the upper reach of the endless perforatedbelt conveyor I so as to constantly attract the bottles I against thebelt surface as they are dropped thereupon.

The bottle receiving station designated generally by the referencenumeral 7 comprises a pair of parallel lateral plates d and bottleguiding members 9 disposed beneath the outlet apertures of the verticalfeed ducts 3 and 4!.

At their lower ends these vertical ducts 3 and 4 open into correspondinglock-chambers II and 112 the function of which is to separately releasethe bottles and thus cause them to drop upon the horizontal conveyor ll.On the other hand, input pickups I3 and 14$ consisting for example ofphotoelectric cells are mounted in the ducts 3 and 4 respectively fordetecting the permanent presence of bottles in these ducts, as will beexplained presently. The height of each lock-chamber ll, 12 correspondsto the height h of a bottle 2 and the photocells 13 or M (or likedetecting devices) are disposed upstream of these lockchambers Ill and12, at a level A in relation to the bottom of these lock-chambers, theheight A corresponding to four or five times h. In other words, thelight beams of these photocells 113 and M are blocked permanently onlywhen four bottles are stacked above the lock-chambers in thecorresponding vertical duct, as illustrated in FIG. I in the case ofduct 3. 0n the other hand, in this example it is assumed that thevertical duct 4i contains (above its lock-chamber I2) only two bottles2, so that another pair of bottles must fall into the duct d before thebeam of photocell M- is blocked permanently.

The passage of bottles carried by the conveyor belt I is detected by anoutput pickup 15 consisting for example of a photocell of which thedistance in relation to vertical duct 3 is adjustable.

The above-described apparatus operates under the control of an electricdevice 20 to be described presently with reference to FIG. 5, theabove-mentioned photocells l3, M being electrically connected to saidcontrol device 21).

Now reference will be made more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 4 of thedrawing which show a typical form of embodiment of a lock-chamber illprovided at the lower end of the vertical duct 3, the other lock-chamber112 being constructed in the same manner. This lock-chamlber Illcomprises at its upper portion a socket 116 in which the lower end ofthe tubular vertical duct 3 is fitted. An upper centering ring 11$ issecured to the lower end of socket 16 by means of screws 17, ahorizontal plate 19 being interposed between the socket l6 and ring It].A transparent tube 21 is fitted in the upper center of the ring 118 andhas its lower end fitted in a ring 22 carried in turn by alowerhorizontal plate 23. The upper and lower plates 19 and 23 are assembledby means of three longitudinal tie rods 24 and by tightening nuts 25, 26engaging the ends of these rods.

The plates 19 and 23 carry coaxial rotary electromagnets 27 and 28,respectively, having through core rods 29 and 31 mntually coupled bymeans of an intermediate rod 34.

The upper coupling sleeve 32 provided to this end is rigid with adiametral arm 35 engaging an arcuate slot 36 formed through the upperring 18. This arm 35 is mounted to pivot between two end positionsdefined by stop members 37 and 37a engageable by the arm end 35a.

In the inoperative position, i.e. when the upper electromagnet 27 isenergized and the lower electromagnet is deenergized, the diametral arm35 is retracted within the slot 36 in the position shown in thick linesin FIG. 3. On the other hand, the operative position (electromagnet 27being deenergized and electromagnet 28 being energized) the arm 35projects into the ring 18 and lies in the position shown in dash-and-dotlines in FIG. 3.

The lower end portion of rod 31 of electromagnet 28 carries a socket 39rigid with another diametral arm 38 extending beneath the plate 23 andlower ring 22. This arm 38 can pivot between two end positions set bystop members 41 and 41a engaged by the end 38a of said arm 38. In theinoperative position (in which only electromagnet 27 is energized) thearm 38 is in the position shown in thick lines in FIG. 4 and lies in thepath of the bottles 2 of which one is shown in thick lines inlock-chamber 11 in FIG. 2. Under these conditions, the arm 38 willprevent this bottle from being dropped onto the conveyor belt 1. On theother hand, when the electromagnet 28 is energized, the arm 38 isretracted laterally in an operative position shown in dash-and-dot linesand thus permits the fall of the bottle onto the conveyor belt 1.

According to a modified form of embodiment, both electromagnets 27 and28 can be replaced by a single electromagnet, the arms 35 and 38 beingreturned to their inoperative positions by a spring.

Now the operation of the apparatus of this invention will be describedwith particular reference to the wiring diagram of the electric controldevice which is shown in FIG. 5. This device receives informationsignals from the pickups 13, 14 and I5, and controls the opening oflock-chambers 11 and 12 at a proper rate in order to ensure the regulardistribution of bottles 2 to the leadout conveyor 1.

In FIG. the various rectangles are the diagrammatic representation ofthe different relays incorporated in this control device and theserelays actually consist of multicontact electronic switches. Thefollowing conventions are adopted in the diagram of FIG. 5: a back ornormally closed contact is shown in the form of a bar overlying a pairof contact studs comprising a black arrowhead and a small circle,respectively. A front or normally open contact is shown in the form of abar underlying the same type of contact studs. The diagram alsocomprises a plurality of instantaneous relays 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47(shown in the form of plain rectangles), a plurality of delayed-openingrelays 48, 49 and 51, i.e. wherein the return to the inoperativeposition is delayed (these relays being represented by a rectanglehaving a smaller rectangle juxtaposed thereto), and also a plurality ofdelayed-closing relays 52, 53 and 54, i.e. relays wherein the return tothe front position is retarded (each one of these last-named relaysbeing shown in the form of a rectangle having a smaller rectanglejuxtaposed thereto which has diagonal lines inscribed therein). Thecircuit further comprises a monostable relay 55 which becomes operativeafter a constant time period, and a bistable multivibrato r 56 acting asa memory device.

The contacts of these various relays are designated by the samereference numerals as the relays, plus the indices a, b, etc... In thecircuit diagram there are also shown contacts 13a, 13b, 13c controlledby the photocell 14 and the paid of contacts a and 15b controlled by theother photocell 15.

The windings of both electromagnets 27 and 28 associated with thelock-chamber 11 and duct 3 are connected to the two complementary outputterminals of relay 46, so that when this relay is deenergized theelectromagnet 27 along is energized and conversely, when the relay 46 isoperative, only electromagnet 28 is energized. The diagram of FIG. 5also shows two electromagnets 127 and 128 corresponding toelectromagnets 27 and 28, respectively, and these electromagnets 127 and128 are associated with the other lock-chamber l2 and the other duct 4,respectively. These electromagnets 127 and 128 are connected to twocomplementary output terminals of relay 47.

Now the operation of the apparatus of this invention will be describedby considering for the time being only the duct 3 and the lock-chamber11 disposed downstream thereof. It will be assumed that initiallyneither the duct 3 nor the lockchamber 11 contain any bottles.

When a bottle 2 is dropped into the duct 3 it moves very rapidly pastthe photocell 13, thus causing the momentary closing of contact 13aconnected to delay-action relays 51 and 53. Now this momentary closinghas no influence whatsoever on the relay 53 which is of thedelayed-closing type, since the time lag required before this relaybecomes operative is greater than the closing time of contact 130. Thus,the bottle drops into the lock-chamber 11 and is stopped therein by thearm 38. In fact, in this case the relay 46 is inoperative andelectromagnet 27 is energized, thus causing the arm 38 to be interposedacross the outlet of said lock-chamber 11.

As the few next bottles fall freely in the duct 3, they accumulatetherein in stacked relationship but contact 130 closes only momentarilyand no consequence is observed. It is only when the fifth bottle issuperposed to the stack that the photocell 13 becomes positivelyoperative. In fact, in this case a bottle 2 lies in the lock-chamber l1and four other bottles are superposed thereto in duct 3. Therefore, theuppermost bottle of the stack will permanently block the light beam ofphotocell 13, thus causing the permanent closing of contact 13a. Theclosing of this contact is attended by the instantaneous energization ofdelay-action relay 51 (which opens with a certain time lag) and, after acertain time period, by the energization of delay-action relay 53 (whichcloses with a certain time lag). This relay 53 is then self-energizedvia front contacts 51a and 530, then closed. Relay 51 opens with acertain time lay to prevent contact 510 from opening untimely during thetemporary blocking due to the fall of a bottle.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, contact 13a is connected in series with a pairof parallel-connected contacts, Le. a back contact 550 of monostablerelay 55 and a front contact 53b of relay 53. As will be explainedpresently, back contact 55a remains open as long as lock-chamber 11 isopen. In other words, when a bottle falling in the duct 3 causespermanent blocking of the light beam of photocell 13, another bottle isbeing extracted from said lock-chamber l1 and falls upon the leadoutconveyor l, the opening of contact 55a preventing the energization ofrelays 51 and 53 as long as relay 55 has not been deenergized.

The function of front contact 53b connected in parallel to contact 53ais to prevent relay 53 from being deenergized each time contact 55a isopened during the normal operation of the apparatus.

Now the manner in which a bottle enclosed in lock-chamber lll isextracted therefrom when a bottle constantly blocks the beam ofphotocell 13 will be described. When the delay-action relay 53 is in itsoperative position as explained in the foregoing, the closing of frontcontact 53c thereof will move relay 45 to its operative position. Thepassage to operative position of this relay is also controlled by afront contact 520 of relay 52. Both relays 49 and 52 are connected tocontact 14a of photocell 14 associated with the other duct 4 and operatelike the relevant relays 51 and 53 mentioned hereinabove. Contacts 49a,55b, 52b and 52a are connected in the same manner and perform the samefunctions as the corresponding contacts 51a, 55a, 53b and 53a.

Under these conditions, when the beams of photocells l3 and/or lid is orare blocked permanently, relay 41 is moved to its operative position.This closes the front contact 45a connected to relay 55 operating as atime lag monostable relay. This relay 55 remains operative during aconstant time period (for instance 0.8 second) corresponding to theopening time of each lock-chamber ill and 12. The passage of relay 55 toits operative position is attended not only by the opening of contacts55a and Mb, but also by the closing of front contact 550 connected inseries with relays do and 47 via front contacts 53d and 52d,respectively. Therefore, the closing of contact 55 caused theenergization of relay in and/or relay 4? according to whether contact53d and/or contact 52d is closed. Assuming that contact 53d is closed(with cell l3 blocked permanently) the energization of relay 46 causesthe energization of electromagnet 2t and the deenergization ofelectromagnet 27. As a consequence, both arms 35 and 38 are rotatedcounterclockwiw as seen in FIGS. 3 and i. The lower arm 3% releases thebottle contained in lock-chamber ill and this hottle can thus fallfreely upon the leadout conveyor ll. On the other hand, the upper arm 35projects into the lock-chamber it under the bottom of the next bottle,thus retaining this hottle as well as the other bottles of the stack. Atthe end of a time period of 0.8 second, corresponding to the time duringwhich the lock-chamber ill was open, relay 35 is deenergized, contact55c opens and relay do is also deenergized. Electromagnet 27 is thenenergized while electromagnet 223 is deenergized. This is attended by apivotal movement of arms 37 and 3b in the clockwise direction, wherebythe upper arm 35 is retracted within the slot as and releases the nextbottle which falls freely into the underlying lock-chamber lit in whichit is retained by the lower arm 3%.

Now the same operation takes place in parallel in the-other lock-chamber12 if contact 520 is closed (the beam of cell M being also permanentlyblocked by a bottle).

The bottle having fallen upon the continuously operating leadoutconveyor l is carried along by this conveyor and thus caused to movepast a photocell 15. Then, two cases may arise, according to whether oneor both photocells l3 and M are blocked permanently.

Assuming firstly that only one cell is blocked permanently, say, celll3, this means that the duct 3 contains at least four bottles above thelock-chamber 1111.

The circuit comprises a logic OR gate consisting of a pair of backcontacts 13b and Mb connected in parallel. These contacts are connectedin series with a front contact 45b, a back contact Mia, the frontcontact 11511 responsive to photocell l5 and the delayed-opening relaydd. Contact 4 451: is closed for, as will be seen presently, relay M isoperative only when both photocells l3 and id have their light beamsblocked simultaneously. Therefore, when the photocell l5 detects thepassage of a bottle, it closes its contact 115a, thus causing theinstantaneous energization of the delayed-opening relay dd. The passageof this relay dd to its operative condition causes the opening of itsback contact dba in series with relay 55, thus deenergizing the windingof this relay 55. When the bottle has cleared the beam of photocell 15,contact lfia opens and relay Alb resumes its inoperative or decnergizedcondition with a certain time lag. As a result, contact 38a is closed,thus causing relay 55 to be reenergized during a time period of 0.8second. The lock-chamber it will then open and release the bottlecontained therein which falls upon the underlying leadout conveyor l.

The above-described operation is repeated each time a bottle moves pastphotocell l5 Now the case in which the beam of photocell l4 associatedwith the other duct 4 is blocked permanently will be examined in moredetail, i.e. with both ducts 3 and 4 filled with bottles. in this casethe opening rate of lock-chambers ill and 112 (which open in parallel soas to drop two bottles upon the leadout conveyor each time they areopened) must be divided by two.

in case both beams of cells l3 and lid are blocked simultaneously, bothcontacts Hills and. lldb will be opened and therefore contact lfia is nolonger operative sincethe corresponding energizing circuit of relayillis open. 0n the other hand, both series connected front contacts lllcand lldc are closed. These contacts constitute an AND gate and areconnected in series with another front contact l5!) of photocell 115.This contact lldb is connected on the one hand to relay d2 via a backcontact lllb in series with front contact i241 and back contact an;connected in parallel, and on the other hand to relay 43 via backcontact dZb in series with front contacts 43a and 55bit connected inparallel. Besides, contacts lid and llllc are connected in series torelay dd. Since these last named contacts are closed, relay id isenergized. As a result, the safety contact 4 th in series with relay dbis opened and prevents the energization of this relay through thecorresponding circuit. On the other hand, relay M is selfenermzed viaits front contact ddb and back contact ddb.

One input of the bistable multivibrator $6 is connected to the frontcontact dilc and to the OR gate comprised of the pair ofparallel-connected contacts lliib and M12. Consequently, as longm'either of these contacts is closed, the bistable multivibrator as isin a first inoperative stable condition. The other input ofmultivibrator 56 which controls the passage of this multivibrator to itsother stable or operative condition is connected to from contact .12s.

When a bottle blocks the light beam of cell 15, contact lfib is closedand as a'result, the relay dill is energized due to the closing oicontacts 43b and sea, the latter being closed when the monostablemultivibrator 5s is on its inoperative condition. The energization ofrelay G2 is attended by the closing of front contact 420 connected tothe other input of bistable multivibrator 5d. The losing of this contactwill thus cause the switching of this multivibrator to its operativecondition. Thus, contact an; is open and contact 56b is closed.

Under these conditions, when the next bottle moves past the cell M, theclosing of contact 5512 will cause the energization of relay d3 viaclosed contacts 42b and 56b. The momentary closing of contact 43d causesthe relay did to become inoperative and therefore relay 55 to becomeoperative during a 0.8- second time period, during which bothlock-chambers ii and i2 are open, thus allowing a pair of bottles tofall simultaneously upon the leadout conveyor ll.

At the same time, the temporary closing of contact Mr causes theswitching of the monostable multivibrator 56 to its inoperativecondition.

Now the operation of the apparatus according to this invention will bedescribed with specific reference to the case wherein, as a consequenceof a lack of supply of bottles to one of the feed ducts, one of thephotocells l3, ld not blocked permanently. ln other words, the operationmust change from one type of operation, wherein the rate is divided bytwo, to another type of operation, wherein a single duct is operative,is. at a normal rate. lRelay 5d is provided for this purpose. Wheneither of cells H3 or lid is not blocked permanently by a bottle, one ofcontacts lilo or lldc is open, thus preventing the subsequentenergization of relay dd. On the other hand, the passage of relay to itsoperative condition cannot be controlled by contact llfia since contacti ila is open, relay M being held in its operative position. Relay Ed isconnected in series to a front contact E50 and a back contact dds. RelayMl is of the delayed-closing type and the corresponding time lag isgreater than the output rate, whereby the opening and closing of contactllllcannot exert any influence on relay 54, which remains inoperative.

When switching from the operation with both ducts 3 and d in parallel tothe single-duct operation, contact his is reclosed and after a timeperiod corresponding to the preset time lag, relay Ed is moved to itsoperative position. Contact 5 30 is closed and relay 53 is energized,thus closing contact dlild and causing the energization of relay d3, asalready explained in the foregoing.

From this moment on, normal operation with a single duct is resumed.

Although the above description refers more particularly to an apparatuscomprising two parallel vertical ducts 3 and 4 in which the objects canfall freely, it is clear that the present invention is applicable aswell to any other type of feed conveyor whether of the free-fall type(for example a canted duct) or wherein the motion is produced by amovable member (such as a horizontal conveyor of the belt,perforated-belt, chain-type, etc..).

Besides, the apparatus according to this invention is also adapted to beassociated, at the expenses of a slightly more elaborate electriccontrol circuitry, to a number of feed conveyors greater than two. lnthe general case of n conveyors, the electrical control device mustcomprise logic circuits capable of controlling (in case p conveyorscontain a sufficient number of waiting objects and can thus feed theleadout conveyors) the simultaneous opening of p lock-chambersassociated with these conveyors, at a rate corresponding to 1p times thenormal rate in case a single feed conveyor were operative.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for regularly regrouping and distributing, on a leadoutconveyor, objects from different origins and which are supplied by aplurality of feed conveyors extending at right angles to said leadoutconveyor comprising: for each feed conveyor, a device for controllingthe arrival of objects on said leadout conveyor, said device comprisingmeans defining a lock-chamber disposed at the outlet end of said feedconveyor, means in said lock-chamber for allowing only one object at atime to pass to said leadout conveyor comprising two horizontal upperand lower stop arms, a pivotally mounted vertical rod rigid with saidstop arms, and a device for controlling the pivotal movements of saidrod between two end positions in which only one of said stop arms isinterposed in the vertical path of said objects, that is, the upper armbeing retracted when the lower arm is interposed in the path of saidobjects, and vice versa, said last-mentioned device including first andsecond rotary coaxial electromagnets having their core rods rigidlycoupled to each other, and means for alternately energizing said firstand second electromagnets, and an input pickup device energizable inresponse to detection of the permanent presence of an object beingsupplied by said feed conveyor at a point located upstream of saidlockchamber; an output pickup device operative to detect the passage ofeach object on said leadout conveyor, and electric control means havingconnected thereto the different input pickup devices associated witheach feed conveyor and the single output pickup device and beingoperative to effect the simultaneous opening of the lock-chambers ofsaid feed conveyors in which the permanent presence of objects has beendetected by respective ones of the energized input pickup devices at arate inversely proportional to the number of energized input pickupdevices.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feed conveyorscomprise first and second vertical ducts disposed in side-by-siderelationship through which the objects to be distributed may fall freelyand with which first and second input pickup devices are associatedrespectively.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said electric controlmeans comprise first, second and third contacts of said first inputpickup device associated with said first vertical duct, first, secondand third contacts of said second input pickup device associated withsaid second vertical duct, first and second contacts of said outputpickup device, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh,eighth, ninth, th, llth, 12th, 13th, and 14th relays comprising normallyclosed back contacts and/or normally open front contacts, said firstrelay comprising two complementary output terminals having connectedthereto the first and second electromagnets controlling the lock-chamberof the first vertical duct, respectively, said second relay having twocomplementary output terminals connected to said first and secondelectromagnets controlling the lock-chamber of said second verticalduct, respectively, said first and second relays being connected inseries respectively with first front contacts of said third and fourthrelays, which contacts are also connected in common to a first frontcontact of said fifth relay constituting a monostable relay controllingthe opening of said lock-chambers, said third relay being of thedelayed-closing type and connected to a circuit comprising two parallelbranches, the first branch of this circuit comprising the first frontcontact of said first pickup device and a parallel circuit comprisingasecond back contact of said fifth relay and a second front contact ofsaid third relay, the second branch of said two-branch circuitcomprising a third front contact of said third relay and a firstfrontcontact of said sixth relay which is a delayed opening relayconnected in parallel to said third relay, said fourth relay being ofthe delayed-closing type and connected to a circuit comprising twoparallel branches comprising in turn, in a first branch, the first frontcontact of said second input pickup device and a parallel circuitcomprising a third back contact of said fifth relay and a second frontcontact of said fourth relay, and in another branch a third frontcontact of sa d fourth relay and a first front contact of said seventhrelay which is of the delayedopening type and connected in parallel tosaid fourth relay, said eighth relay being connected in parallel tofourth front contacts of said third and fourth relays respectively, saidninth relay, which is of the delayed-opening type, being connected inseries with said first front contact of said output pickup device, afirst back contact of said 10th relay, a first front contact of saideighth relay and an OR circuit consisting of the two second backcontacts connected in parallel, of said first and second input pickupdevices respectively, said fifth monostable relay controlling theopening of said lock-chambers being connected in series with a secondfrom contact of said eighth relay and a first back contact of said ninthrelay, said electric control device further comprising an AND circuitconsisting of the two series connected third front contacts of saidfirst and second input pickup devices, said AND circuit being connectedin turn on the one hand to said lOth relay also connected in series witha second back contact of said ninth relay and a second front contact ofsaid 10th relay, and on the other hand to the second front contact ofsaid output pickup device which is connected in turn to two parallelcircuits containing therein said 1 1th and 12th relays respectively, thefirst one of said last-named parallel circuits comprising said llthrelay and, in series therewith, a first back contact of said 12th relayconstituting a bistable multivibrator, the other parallel circuitcomprising said 12th relay and, in series with this 12th relay, a secondback contact of said llth relay and two parallel contacts, namely asecond front contact of said 12th relay and a second front contact ofsaid 13th relay constituting a bistable multivibrator, a third frontcontact of said 12th relay and said OR circuit being connected inparallel to a first control input of said 13th relay constituting abistable multivibrator, the other input of said 13th relay beingconnected in series to a third front contact of said i 1th relay, afourth from contact of said 12th relay being connected to said ninthrelay, and finally said 14th relay, which is of the delayedclosing type,connected in series with a third front contact of said eighth relay anda third back contact of said ninth relay, a front contact of said 14threlay being connected between said 12th relay and the second frontcontact of said 10th relay.

* 1: a: k a:

1. An apparatus for regularly regrouping and distributing, on a leadoutconveyor, objects from different origins and which are supplied by aplurality of feed conveyors extending at right angles to said leadoutconveyor comprising: for each feed conveyor, a device for controllingthe arrival of objects on said leadout conveyor, said device comprisingmeans defining a lockchamber disposed at the outlet end of said feedconveyor, means in said lock-chamber for allowing only one object at atime to pass to said leadout conveyor comprising two horizontal upperand lower stop arms, a pivotally mounted vertical rod rigid with saidstop arms, and a device for controlling the pivotal movements of saidrod between two end positions in which only one of said stop arms isinterposed in the vertical path of said objects, that is, the upper armbeing retracted when the lower arm is interposed in the path of saidobjects, and vice versa, said last-mentioned device including first andsecond rotary coaxial electromagnets having their core rods rigidlycoupled to each other, and means for alternately energizing said firstand second electromagnets, and an input pickup device energizable inresponse to detection of the permanent presence of an object beingsupplied by said feed conveyor at a point located upstream of saidlock-chamber; an output pickup device operative to detect the passage ofeach object on said leadout conveyor, and electric control means havingconnected thereto the different input pickup devices associated witheach feed conveyor and the single output pickup device and beingoperative to effect the simultaneous opening of the lock-chambers ofsaid feed conveyors in which the permanent presence of objects has beendetected by respective ones of the energized input pickup devices at arate inversely proportional to the number of energized input pickupdevices.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feedconveyors comprise first and second vertical ducts disposed inside-by-side relationship through which the objects to be distributedmay fall freely and with which first and second input pickup devices areassociated respectively.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2,wherein said electric control means comprise first, second and thirdcontacts of said first input pickup device associated with said firstvertical duct, first, second and third contacts of said second inputpickup device associated with said second vertical duct, first andsecond contacts of said output pickup device, first, second, third,fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th,and 14th relays comprising normally closed back contacts and/or normallyopen front contacts, said first relay comprising two complementaryoutput terminals having connected thereto the first and secondelectromagnets controlling the lock-chamber of the first vertical duct,respectively, said second relay having two complementary outputterminals connected to said first and second electromagnets controllingthe lock-chamber of said second vertical duct, respectively, said firstand second relays being connected in series respectively with firstfront contacts of said third and fourth relays, which contacts are alsoconnected in common to a first front contact of said fifth relayconstituting a monostable relay controlling the opening of saidlock-chambers, said third relay being of the delayed-closing type andconnected to a circuit comprising two parallel branches, the firstbranch of this circuit comprising the first front contact of said firstpickup device and a parallel circuit comprising a second back contact Ofsaid fifth relay and a second front contact of said third relay, thesecond branch of said two-branch circuit comprising a third frontcontact of said third relay and a first front contact of said sixthrelay which is a delayed opening relay connected in parallel to saidthird relay, said fourth relay being of the delayed-closing type andconnected to a circuit comprising two parallel branches comprising inturn, in a first branch, the first front contact of said second inputpickup device and a parallel circuit comprising a third back contact ofsaid fifth relay and a second front contact of said fourth relay, and inanother branch a third front contact of said fourth relay and a firstfront contact of said seventh relay which is of the delayed-opening typeand connected in parallel to said fourth relay, said eighth relay beingconnected in parallel to fourth front contacts of said third and fourthrelays respectively, said ninth relay, which is of the delayed-openingtype, being connected in series with said first front contact of saidoutput pickup device, a first back contact of said 10th relay, a firstfront contact of said eighth relay and an OR circuit consisting of thetwo second back contacts connected in parallel, of said first and secondinput pickup devices respectively, said fifth monostable relaycontrolling the opening of said lock-chambers being connected in serieswith a second front contact of said eighth relay and a first backcontact of said ninth relay, said electric control device furthercomprising an AND circuit consisting of the two series connected thirdfront contacts of said first and second input pickup devices, said ANDcircuit being connected in turn on the one hand to said 10th relay alsoconnected in series with a second back contact of said ninth relay and asecond front contact of said 10th relay, and on the other hand to thesecond front contact of said output pickup device which is connected inturn to two parallel circuits containing therein said 11th and 12threlays respectively, the first one of said last-named parallel circuitscomprising said 11th relay and, in series therewith, a first backcontact of said 12th relay constituting a bistable multivibrator, theother parallel circuit comprising said 12th relay and, in series withthis 12th relay, a second back contact of said 11th relay and twoparallel contacts, namely a second front contact of said 12th relay anda second front contact of said 13th relay constituting a bistablemultivibrator, a third front contact of said 12th relay and said ORcircuit being connected in parallel to a first control input of said13th relay constituting a bistable multivibrator, the other input ofsaid 13th relay being connected in series to a third front contact ofsaid 11th relay, a fourth front contact of said 12th relay beingconnected to said ninth relay, and finally said 14th relay, which is ofthe delayed-closing type, connected in series with a third front contactof said eighth relay and a third back contact of said ninth relay, afront contact of said 14th relay being connected between said 12th relayand the second front contact of said 10th relay.